If one was charitable and/or a die-hard Clinton supporter blinded by Obamafreude, one could perhaps chalk Geraldine Ferraro's earlier statement on Barack Obama's race to inartful phrasing, or perhaps low-level insensitivity to racial issues.

"Any time anybody does anything that in any way pulls this campaign down and says let's address reality and the problems we're facing in this world, you're accused of being racist, so you have to shut up," Ferraro said. "Racism works in two different directions. I really think they're attacking me because I'm white. How's that?"

Uh...that's insane. How's that?I think Ferraro was trying to be flip here; I don't think she was seriously arguing that people were going after her because of her race. But by being flip, she diminishes the very real and legitimate argument that her earlier comments were at best racially insensitive. And she diminishes the very real racism that Obama faces by insinuating that the Obama campaign is simply using the specter of racism as a shield.

That diminishes, by extension, the idea that racism is even relevant anymore. That it all-too-clearly is makes such a statement very troubling, and echoes my earlier concern that this is a dog-whistle to "Reagan Democrats," the folks the Democrats lost for not being racist enough.

At this point, Ferraro has stepped beyond what can be walked back. No, she isn't a prominent Clinton staffer, but she's a notable supporter. The Clinton campaign needs to denounce and reject her remarks and help, and sooner than later.

“Every time that campaign is upset about something, they call it racist,” she said. “I will not be discriminated against because I’m white. If they think they’re going to shut up Geraldine Ferraro with that kind of stuff, they don’t know me.”

I really just don't even know what to say anymore.

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Straight Up Racist that Sucker Was Simple and Plain

If one was charitable and/or a die-hard Clinton supporter blinded by Obamafreude, one could perhaps chalk Geraldine Ferraro's earlier statement on Barack Obama's race to inartful phrasing, or perhaps low-level insensitivity to racial issues.

"Any time anybody does anything that in any way pulls this campaign down and says let's address reality and the problems we're facing in this world, you're accused of being racist, so you have to shut up," Ferraro said. "Racism works in two different directions. I really think they're attacking me because I'm white. How's that?"

Uh...that's insane. How's that?I think Ferraro was trying to be flip here; I don't think she was seriously arguing that people were going after her because of her race. But by being flip, she diminishes the very real and legitimate argument that her earlier comments were at best racially insensitive. And she diminishes the very real racism that Obama faces by insinuating that the Obama campaign is simply using the specter of racism as a shield.

That diminishes, by extension, the idea that racism is even relevant anymore. That it all-too-clearly is makes such a statement very troubling, and echoes my earlier concern that this is a dog-whistle to "Reagan Democrats," the folks the Democrats lost for not being racist enough.

At this point, Ferraro has stepped beyond what can be walked back. No, she isn't a prominent Clinton staffer, but she's a notable supporter. The Clinton campaign needs to denounce and reject her remarks and help, and sooner than later.

“Every time that campaign is upset about something, they call it racist,” she said. “I will not be discriminated against because I’m white. If they think they’re going to shut up Geraldine Ferraro with that kind of stuff, they don’t know me.”

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